Colourful photos of military parades celebrating India's 68th Republic Day

India celebrated its 68th Republic Day on Thursday (26 January 2017) with an elaborate display of cultural events including parades, acrobats and vast displays of military hardware.

Policewomen taking part in the India's Republic Day parade in Allahabad, IndiaJitendra Prakash/Reuters

India won independence from British rule on 15 August 1947. Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into play as the new governing document of the country, replacing the 1935 Government of India Act on 26 January 1950.

Festivities took place all over the country, with particularly spectacular sights observed in Jammu, Srinagar and Kolkata. IBTimes UK presents some of the best photos from the 2017 Indian Republic Day so far:

Policemen loading rifles as they take part in the India's Republic Day parade in AllahabadJitendra Prakash/ReutersIndian school students displaying 'kalaripayittu', an ancient martial art, during a parade to mark Republic Day in ChennaiArun Sankar/AFPSchoolchildren taking part in the Republic Day parade in BengaluruAbhishek N Chinnappa/ReutersStudents holding balloons as they leave an event to mark Republic Day in MumbaiIndranil Mukherjee/AFPIndian cadets during a parade to mark Republic Day in ChennaiArun Sankar/AFPAn Indian military contingent during the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath in New DelhiPrakash Singh/AFPAn Indian Army contingent during the 68th Republic Day parade in New DelhiMoney Sharma/AFPIndian soldiers during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, IndiaAdnan Abidi/ReutersAn Indian artist taking part in the Republic Day parade in New DelhiAdnan Abidi/ReutersThe Indian Military Police's Dare Devil stunt team in a display during the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath in New DelhPrakash Singh/AFPPolicemen marching during India's Republic Day parade on a cold winter day in SrinagarDanish Ismail/ReutersA man sheltering from the rain at the India Gate following the Republic Day parade in New DelhiCathal McNaughton/ReutersA policeman on to his hand as he takes part in a parade to celebrate India's Republic Day in SrinagarDanish Ismail/ReutersSchoolgirls on the steps of a stadium covered with snow as they watch India's Republic Day celebrations on a cold winter day in SrinagarDanish Ismail/ReutersAn Indian student at an event to mark the 68th Republic Day in HyderabadNoah Seelam/AFP